Date: 20 April, 2017

Location: Ring mountain (37.91440, -122.48960), elevation: 115.3 meters

This picture illustrates the directions from the University of San Francisco to Ring Mountain.

Site description:

We started our trail at the Ring Mountain, which is located on the Tiburon Peninsula in Marin County. We came across a serpentine grassland, where we saw many serpentine rocks. Many of the species in this region were small, serpentine endemics. Some lived near the water in damp areas. We saw many species here that we had seen on our other field trips including clovers, California goldfield, lupines, and also some oak trees.

Species descriptions and digital collections: These pictures illustrate the three species of plants that I have chosen to describe in my blog.

1) Genus and Species: Calystegia purpurata

Common name: Smooth Western Morning Glory

Family: Convolvulaceae

Species Description: this native perennial vine was the first species we ran into that was assigned to the family that I was responsible for. The flowers are distinct because they are large and have a funnel/trumpet shape with fused petals, which vary in color from white to pink to purple. The leaves have a triangular shape with angled lobes and an acute tip. This species also has a narrow and fibrous stem. The growth is a vine form that can grow up to 10 ft. tall and wide.

2) Genus and Species: Leptosiphon androsaceus

Common name: False babystars

Family: Polemoniaceae

Species Description: this is a native and annual herb. The leaves are opposite, fringe-like, and are palmately divided into 5-9 linear lobes. They have a head inflorescence (the bracts are claw-like and they form the inflorescence). The flowers are 5-parted trumpet, pink with yellow and violet throat. The middle is yellow and a three-part stigma sticks out of it.

 3) Genus and Species: Allium unifolium

Common Name: One leaf onion

Family: Alliaceae

Species Description: this species is a perennial herb and it is a part of the onion/garlic family. It has a similar scent to onion/garlic. We came across this species in a wet area next to a stream. The inflorescence consists of multiple pink/purple bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem; there is lack of vegetation. However, we did see one sword-like leaf.

Narrative:

This field trip was very fun and eventful. We left campus in the afternoon and drove to Ring Mountain. When we arrived, two other people joined us. One of them named Shelly, was an expert on many plants and she taught us a lot of new things, which was very nice. We reviewed some old species and learned about some new ones. I finally saw the species that I was assigned to here, which was very exciting. I was unfortunately sick and had a second allergy attack, which was not a pretty sight to see. Despite that, the view was amazing and I was expecting to see Chinese houses for half of the field trip until I realized that it was the common name of one of the species.

Our whole class climbed up a gigantic rock and we took awesome pictures on it. Professor Paul had also brought little debbies again and challenged us on multiple species. I forgot that it had rained the day before so my white shoes are brown now after stepping into a giant puddle of mud. The trails were pretty and longer than usual but it was fun seeing everything and learning new things. We got back to campus around 5 in the evening. However, it was very difficult to park since it was 4/20. A very interesting day overall and I look forward to making the best of the few field trips left until graduation.

Picture of the Flax

Little Rattlesnake Grass

Oakland Mariposa lily

Q tips